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goblingking's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jamie_w's review against another edition
5.0
Wow oh WOW! This final book in the series really brought all of the emotions - the entire freaking time! While I knew we'd get a HFN, I had no clue how we'd get there and who would have to die in the process. The suspense in this was visceral! I was holding my breath several times and couldn't read fast enough. I also completely adored Lasher -who is definitely the unsung hero of this book! We got that good good pining again in this book that just made me ache for Niko and Vasili!! But we also got that steamy pay off!! Action, suspense, romance - all of the things in this series!
annagy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I kind of wish this series was wrapped up in two books. I feel like there were too many repetitions in plot devices and I ended up skimming a lot through the second half of the book.
Also, after waiting three books for the main couple to finally have sex? The scene we got was a bit underwhelming just saying.
Also, after waiting three books for the main couple to finally have sex? The scene we got was a bit underwhelming just saying.
kaitlin_durante's review
5.0
**I received a digital arc for an honest review**
Curse of the Dark Prince by Ariana Nash is the final book in the Prince’s Assassin series and epically concludes Nikolas and Vasili’s battle with darkness. Nikolas Yazdan is recovering from the torture he experienced under Amir’s control and is yet again rescuing Vasili from his self-sacrificing ways. Although they escape the clutches of Niko’s family the dark flame is growing stronger and Vasili is starting to crack. Vasili is not the only one struggling under the lure of the flame with Niko succumbing to the power he never wanted. Their futures were written far in the past and now it is time for Niko and Vasili’s fate to come true.
Nikolas refuses to give up Vasili, the only man he can imagine hating as much as he loves. He has been trying too hard to keep Vasili from giving up and allowing the dark flame to take control that when he needs to use the flame to protect him he doesn’t realize the toll it takes. Niko’s descent into darkness is subtle but you see his struggle as he forces himself to not use the flame as an easy way to solve a problem. He finds himself with an unexpected ally in Lasher who proves that anyone can change to serve the greater good and relies on Yasir even as he struggles with loss. Niko and Vasili get glimpses of the future and fight so hard to reach a safe place together.
“The legacy, the flame, the curse; he’d see to it that everything ended with him. All he needed was his assassin to follow one final order.”
Vasili's finally losing his battle against the dark flame and he's so afraid of ruining Niko in the process. His honesty breaks your heart as you read about the freedom he feels with Niko and how afraid he is to lose that feeling. Giving in to his physical connection with Niko is everything you want it to be in more as the battle for dominance is balanced with care and affection. Self sacrifice is his modus operandi and he continues putting everyone and everything else ahead of himself.
“In the quiet moments, and the moments when he’d stripped all his layers back, Vasili was spellbinding. Vulnerable and fierce. Niko’s Vasili.”
This book crushed me. I knew it was going to but at the same time I was unprepared. Tears and frustration and more tears. This story takes you on the painful journey of Vasili's sacrifice and Niko's fight to prevent Vasili from following through with what he thinks is his fate. It's fast paced and yet achingly slow as you stress towards the dark flame overtaking everything. The romance warmed your heart and the betrayal and sad moments ruined you over and over again.
5 stars for this epic conclusion in the battle against the dark flame and everything stacked against Niko and Vasili.
Curse of the Dark Prince by Ariana Nash is the final book in the Prince’s Assassin series and epically concludes Nikolas and Vasili’s battle with darkness. Nikolas Yazdan is recovering from the torture he experienced under Amir’s control and is yet again rescuing Vasili from his self-sacrificing ways. Although they escape the clutches of Niko’s family the dark flame is growing stronger and Vasili is starting to crack. Vasili is not the only one struggling under the lure of the flame with Niko succumbing to the power he never wanted. Their futures were written far in the past and now it is time for Niko and Vasili’s fate to come true.
Nikolas refuses to give up Vasili, the only man he can imagine hating as much as he loves. He has been trying too hard to keep Vasili from giving up and allowing the dark flame to take control that when he needs to use the flame to protect him he doesn’t realize the toll it takes. Niko’s descent into darkness is subtle but you see his struggle as he forces himself to not use the flame as an easy way to solve a problem. He finds himself with an unexpected ally in Lasher who proves that anyone can change to serve the greater good and relies on Yasir even as he struggles with loss. Niko and Vasili get glimpses of the future and fight so hard to reach a safe place together.
“The legacy, the flame, the curse; he’d see to it that everything ended with him. All he needed was his assassin to follow one final order.”
Vasili's finally losing his battle against the dark flame and he's so afraid of ruining Niko in the process. His honesty breaks your heart as you read about the freedom he feels with Niko and how afraid he is to lose that feeling. Giving in to his physical connection with Niko is everything you want it to be in more as the battle for dominance is balanced with care and affection. Self sacrifice is his modus operandi and he continues putting everyone and everything else ahead of himself.
“In the quiet moments, and the moments when he’d stripped all his layers back, Vasili was spellbinding. Vulnerable and fierce. Niko’s Vasili.”
This book crushed me. I knew it was going to but at the same time I was unprepared. Tears and frustration and more tears. This story takes you on the painful journey of Vasili's sacrifice and Niko's fight to prevent Vasili from following through with what he thinks is his fate. It's fast paced and yet achingly slow as you stress towards the dark flame overtaking everything. The romance warmed your heart and the betrayal and sad moments ruined you over and over again.
5 stars for this epic conclusion in the battle against the dark flame and everything stacked against Niko and Vasili.
joonjxne's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jacqueleenthereadingqueen's review
5.0
"Vasili Caville is a monster."
" Because nobody gave him a choice."
Well that marks the end of the amazing Prince's Assassin series and whoa what an ending it was. It was bloody, jarring, and littered with tiny glimpses of emotions. With so many lies and backstabbing along the way I spent the majority of the book wondering who was going to betray them next, Vasili included. You never knew what that man was thinking...until this book. We finally get to hear from the man himself as this book is dual POV. So much goes on behind the mask that is the Prince and I fell for the beautiful man hidden behind it just as Niko did. There is a reason for everything Vasili does, even if it goes against what the man truly wants in his heart.
" He had not meant to fall in love with Nikolas Yazdan. Use him, yes. But never love him."
Niko has a huge task ahead of him. He needs to destroy the flame, without destroying the man he loves. That is quite an undertaking as the flame lives within not only Vasili, but himself as well. Plans are made and plans blow up in their faces. It's par for the course with these two. It is only Vasili who has always seen the true ending. He's been pulling the strings since that first meeting in the bar and as usual he refuses to be swayed. Vasili knows the endgame and he has always made it clear that happily ever after was never going to be the life for him and Niko.
"He'd keep his word because it was all he had left to give the man he loved."
As their paths forge on, old enemies become allies. Nikolas becomes resigned to Vasilis fate, and of course the ever colorful Yasir is there to help along the way. I doubt even the brilliant mind of Vasili could have predicted what happens in the end. 5 stars
" Because nobody gave him a choice."
Well that marks the end of the amazing Prince's Assassin series and whoa what an ending it was. It was bloody, jarring, and littered with tiny glimpses of emotions. With so many lies and backstabbing along the way I spent the majority of the book wondering who was going to betray them next, Vasili included. You never knew what that man was thinking...until this book. We finally get to hear from the man himself as this book is dual POV. So much goes on behind the mask that is the Prince and I fell for the beautiful man hidden behind it just as Niko did. There is a reason for everything Vasili does, even if it goes against what the man truly wants in his heart.
" He had not meant to fall in love with Nikolas Yazdan. Use him, yes. But never love him."
Niko has a huge task ahead of him. He needs to destroy the flame, without destroying the man he loves. That is quite an undertaking as the flame lives within not only Vasili, but himself as well. Plans are made and plans blow up in their faces. It's par for the course with these two. It is only Vasili who has always seen the true ending. He's been pulling the strings since that first meeting in the bar and as usual he refuses to be swayed. Vasili knows the endgame and he has always made it clear that happily ever after was never going to be the life for him and Niko.
"He'd keep his word because it was all he had left to give the man he loved."
As their paths forge on, old enemies become allies. Nikolas becomes resigned to Vasilis fate, and of course the ever colorful Yasir is there to help along the way. I doubt even the brilliant mind of Vasili could have predicted what happens in the end. 5 stars
thisistrashpsyd's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
waxenapple's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
aimora's review against another edition
5.0
I'm so heartbroken over Liam. Glad for the (relatively) happy ending. What a great adventure this series was!
paracosmere's review against another edition
4.0
This was an exciting tale of adventure, betrayal, and love filled with twists and turns. But perhaps a book tad too long. I feel like books two and three could've been a single book instead. Too much fillers bulked up the pages without much making progress in the plot. Trivial things unnecessarily stalled the story and contributed very little. At the beginning of the Curse of the Dark Prince, I was already thinking this should've been over a book ago.
Unsolicited ramblings aside, I still enjoyed this series. Nikolas and Vasili's adventures ran its admiring course to a sweet ending. It was fun reading how they developed from enemies to lovers. They're literally the definition of an "immovable object meets an unstoppable force" with Niko's strong optimism against Vasili's slippery slyness. It was a hard-fought love but in the end these love birds deserved that much-earned life of freedom.
Unsolicited ramblings aside, I still enjoyed this series. Nikolas and Vasili's adventures ran its admiring course to a sweet ending. It was fun reading how they developed from enemies to lovers. They're literally the definition of an "immovable object meets an unstoppable force" with Niko's strong optimism against Vasili's slippery slyness. It was a hard-fought love but in the end these love birds deserved that much-earned life of freedom.